A FORMER soldier who is slowly winning the fight against Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is playing a rugby match for a charity which has helped his recovery.

Richard Brown and his team are raising money for the Welsh Warrior Richard Hunt Foundation tomorrow at the Chepstow Rugby Club tournament.

The charity was set up by Hazel Hunt in memory of her son Richard, who died after serving in Afghanistan in 2009.

Father-of-four Mr Brown, 41, who was a Lance Corporal in the Coldstream Guards, said during his battle with PTSD, he suffered terrifying flashbacks, had no control over his actions and struggled with every day tasks.

He says the Foundation was the only charity that really helped. “Everybody else fobbed me off and wouldn’t listen,” he said. “Hazel said ‘do you need help?’ I said ‘yes’ and she said ‘what do you need?’ It was the comforting words I needed to hear.”

The charity told him about a group research skills course, where he discussed information about mental health with other sufferers and was put in touch with those who could help him psychologically.

Mrs Hunt said: “We have been able to help and they are helping us – it’s a nice little circle.”